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Born Abroad: Citizenship by Descent - Frequently Asked Questions

What is Foreign Births Registration?

A person born outside the island of Ireland, and where the parent through whom Irish citizenship is to be derived was also born outside the island, must be registered on the Foreign Births Register in order for him/her to obtain Irish citizenship.

Once a person is entered onto the Foreign Births Register they are an Irish citizen and therefore entitled to apply for an Irish passport.

Who can apply for Foreign Birth Registration?

People with a grandparent born in Ireland

If your grandparent was born on the island of Ireland and your parent was born outside Ireland then you are eligible to apply for entry on to the Foreign Births Register. More detailed information on how to apply and what is required can be found here at our Registering a Foreign Birth page.

People with a grandparent born outside Ireland, but with a parent who is an Irish citizen

If your parent became an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration or Naturalisation prior to your birth and you were born outside Ireland, you can apply for Foreign Birth Registration.

General Queries

At present it takes approximately 6 months to process a completed Foreign Birth Registration application.

Have you received my application and documentation?

We do not acknowledge receipt of applications/documentation – we advise you to send your application via recorded mail so you can track whether package has been delivered on Delivery Company’s website.

What is the current status of my application?

Completed applications are taking approximately 6 months to process. If we require further documentation we will contact you, if you do not hear from us you can presume your application is being processed.

Do you return all of my certificates?

Yes. At the end of the process we will return all your original certificates to the address on your application form.

Should I send a prepaid envelope for return of my documentation?

No, all your documentation will be returned by recorded mail – you will have to sign for the package.

Can I bring my application to your office in person?

No, we do not have a public office. You can contact us by email or phone.

Can I apply for an Irish passport at the same time as applying for Foreign Birth Registration?

No, you cannot apply for an Irish passport until you are an Irish citizen.

Can I get any name entered on the FBR cert?

The name included on each FBR certificate will be the same as the one entered on your birth certificate, Irish Adoption certificate or Gender Recognition cert. Name changes by Deed Poll are not recognised.

Documentation Required

A list of the documentation that you would need to submit with your application can be found on our Registering a Foreign Birth page.

My Grandparent was born before 1864, when Irish civil birth registrations began – what other documents can I supply?

We can accept your grandparent’s Baptismal certificate in this instance.

My parent/grandparent was adopted – which additional documents do I need to supply?

For an Irish-born person who was adopted: we will require an adoption certificate, issued by the central authority in the country in which the adoption took place along with the other required documents (including the original longform Irish birth certificate).

If you are applying through an adoptive grandparent or parent, and not through a biological link, you may wish to contact us directly.

What is a certified document?

A certified document is one that has been signed and dated by a recognised person or organisation as a true copy or translation of the original.

The following may qualify to make a certified copy of your document:

Organisation or authority that issued your original document

Solicitor/Barrister

Notary

Commissioner of Oaths

Post Office Service

A document will be considered certified/notarised where the following procedure has been adhered to:

Ask the person or organisation you have contacted to create a copy or translation of your document.

Then ask them to:

Write 'Certified to be a true copy/translation of the original seen by me' on the document.

Sign and date the document.

Print their name under the signature.

Add their occupation, address and telephone number.

Attach their stamp/seal, business card, or include their professional register reference number.

Yes, you can use the same set of papers and supporting documents for both applications. Just enclose the two separate application forms in one envelope and send it to us with a letter saying that some of the documents apply to both applications. This only applies if you are resident in the same country when applying.

I already am a citizen through FBR. Can I now apply for FBR in my preferred gender?

Yes. You can apply as normal with an amended birth certificate, as long as it is issued by the state authority.

Can I check if someone has registered under a new gender?

Members of the public are not entitled to determine if someone has been entered in the Register of Gender Recognition of Foreign Births – only specific individuals with a familial link to the person entered on the register under the Gender Recognition of Foreign Births Regulations 2017, will be allowed to request an extract of the register.